A new study published in the British Medical Journal has warned that calorie labelling on menus may worsen eating disorders, despite policies focusing primarily on reducing obesity. Findings suggest that calorie labels can trigger harmful behaviour, including food avoidance, increased anxiety, and obsessive calorie tracking. One US study found that individuals with anorexia or bulimia selected meals with an average of 550 calories when calorie labels were visible, compared to 1,615 calories without labels. Another UK study found that 55% of participants with eating disorders reported worsening symptoms due to calorie information. Experts and charities, including Beat, are urging policymakers to consider the mental health impact of such measures. While the Government defends calorie labelling as part of its Ten-Year Health Plan, critics argue that its benefits are minimal and that eating disorder support should be prioritised over ineffective policies. See